Nick Herbig Shines in Steelers’ Win Over Ravens

In his first game back after a five-week hiatus and only the third start of his NFL career, Nick Herbig made a significant impact in the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ narrow 18-16 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. The second-year outside linebacker, who missed four games due to a hamstring injury, returned to the field to replace injured teammate Alex Highsmith and played a pivotal role in Sunday’s AFC North opener at Acrisure Stadium.

Herbig made a memorable impression by stripping the ball from Baltimore Ravens’ running back Derrick Henry, the NFL’s leading rusher at the time, forcing a rare fumble from the star athlete. Herbig’s effort was instrumental in setting up the first of Chris Boswell‘s six field goals in the game. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin commended Herbig’s significant contribution, describing him as a “big-time player.” «Any of us that are around him are not surprised when he makes significant plays, particularly in significant moments,» Tomlin stated during his Monday news conference.

A 2023 fourth-round pick from Wisconsin, Herbig recorded two tackles, forced a fumble, and achieved a team-best five pressures, according to NextGen Stats. His performance did not go unnoticed, as he was instrumental on defense, managing to halt the Ravens’ late two-point conversion attempt to ensure the Steelers’ victory. Herbig attributed his success to the camaraderie and support among the Steelers’ defense, likening it to playing «backyard football» with his brothers.

The fumble play was especially remarkable, considering it marked the first lost fumble in 538 touches for Henry, a testament to Herbig’s playmaking ability. The Steelers defense managed to contain Henry to 65 rushing yards and limit the offensive threat posed by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, enabling Herbig to maintain a consistent presence on the field, playing 50 defensive snaps.

Despite his absence due to injury, Herbig’s conditioning appeared unaffected as he played the majority of defensive snaps. Tomlin commended the balance of play and possessions in the game, which favored the Steelers and allowed Herbig to impress. Meanwhile, Preston Smith, newly acquired by the Steelers, was limited to 17 defensive snaps.

Looking ahead, the Steelers are preparing to face the Cleveland Browns, with speculation about the potential for Preston Smith to see more action to manage player workload in back-to-back games. The Steelers’ defense may face different challenges in their Week 12 matchup, particularly with the Browns’ ability to maintain ball possession, as seen in their performance against the New Orleans Saints.